“I am pleased to see this latest contribution from IMPOWER which highlights specific examples of new ways of working developed closely with practitioners and families. And, most importantly, changes with a clear impact on life chances shared through first-hand accounts.” Andy Smith, Director of People Services, Derby City Council

Last year we were proud to publish our High Needs Annual Impact Report which captured the highlights from our programme supporting local areas to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND and High Needs.

During summer 2024, we hosted an event to facilitate sharing on innovation in the high needs sector. This discussion focused on how local areas are using the ‘Valuing SEND’ approach “as part of every strategy” to keep long-term outcomes at the centre – from meeting need early before problems escalate, through making the right support decisions, to upholding the ambition for pupils once support is in place. It was clear in this session that lots of change has been delivered with much achieved – and there is more that can be done.

This session also underlined that the central theme running through the successful changes supported by IMPOWER has been co-production. Partly in the co-design and co-delivery of those change initiatives with pupils, parents and practitioners, but mostly in how those changes have supported better frontline communication every day, and ultimately achieved greater confidence in the support provided for each child.

To reflect this, we have changed the format of our impact report. This year we have facilitated parents and practitioners to share their first-hand accounts of the changes enabled by Valuing SEND and the difference they have made to lived experience.